Woodland mall manager facing assault allegations

The well-known manager of Woodland's County Fair Fashion Mall is facing criminal charges after a business owner at the mall said he was assaulted in his own store.

A trial date was set Monday in the case of Al Aldrete, accused of choking Chang No, owner of Sunshine Studio, and physically dragging him out of his store. The three-day trial is planned to begin July 17.

According to No's attorney Louis Chang, the alleged assault was over an 8 p.m. curfew imposed on stores in the mall. Chang said stores were expected to be vacated and closed after that time.

One problem, however, is that "There is no such curfew; they hadn't contracted for any such thing," he said.

Chang said that on Oct. 5, 2012, things came to a head when Aldrete confronted the store owner for being there after 8 p.m., then gave "some sort of countdown, and then puts him in a chokehold and tries to drag him out."

No was "choked and dragged out of his own store," causing bruising to his neck, the attorney said.

Chang said his client's business, a photography studio, was closed to the public at the time, and that No was catching up on work. He said No had even tried to clear his presence in advance.

"He called in ahead of time to make sure it was OK -- even though this 8 p.m. thing isn't legit."

According to court records, Aldrete was charged with one count of misdemeanor battery on Nov. 9, and a civil complaint against him was filed seven days later. He has pleaded not guilty.

Aldrete would not comment on the case and referred questions to the corporate office of his employer, Primero Management Inc., based in Calabasas. Reached by phone, the company's attorney refused to comment.

The mall is owned by Raymond Arjmand, who is also president of Primero.

Aldrete was not present for the scheduling of the criminal case Monday. However his attorney, Richard Lansburgh, spoke to Judge Samuel McAdam about the case, describing it as "putting the cart before the horse" due to the existence of both criminal and civil cases over the incident.

If the civil case reaches a resolution, the criminal case may be dropped. "It still might resolve," Lansburgh said.